2016 World Snooker Championship last 16: Trump to take baize battle with Ding

2016 World Snooker Championship

World Snooker Championship last 16

Sunday, April 24th

First break-off: 10:00 BST

Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Live on the BBC and Eurosport

Third Crucible clash between Juddernaut and Junhui

Sunday sees the final two last 16 matches of the 2016 World Snooker Championship get underway, and the hottest ticket in Sheffield will be to see two of the green baize’s top prospects battle as Judd Trump tackles Ding Junhui.

Players Championship Grand Final victor Mark Allen has had another so-nearly season in the snooker majors, meanwhile, and he faces surprise Shanghai Masters champ Kyren Wilson for a spot in the quarters.

Ding defeat destined based on previous form

Although the head-to-head record is level at half a dozen wins apiece, Trump has two out of two when clashing with the Chinese sensation at the Crucible in Sheffield – a venue where Junhui has struggled to make an impact.

The Juddernaut thus starts as an odds-on 8/15 match favourite to take this first to 13 frames encounter, and better to cover the handicap of 2.5 at 10/11. He dumped Ding out of the World Snooker Championship last year in the quarter-finals, and that is why his Oriental opponent is a 6/4 outsider to advance.

Junhui was blown away by Trump’s brand of Naughty Snooker 12 months ago, losing 13-4, and a repeat scoreline is a 20/1 chance. In their last couple of meetings, the Juddernaut has raced into handsome leads, making odds of 11/5 to hold a 3-1 lead going into the first mid-session interval attractive.

Pistol will whip Wilson into shape

Although eliminating Allen en route to that sensational Shanghai Masters triumph earlier this season, Wilson starts as a 6/4 outsider to repeat that result as the Northern Ireland potter has come out and beaten him twice since.